Jul 13, 2006
Wayback Machine: Remington Steele
For a complete departure from our usual marketing and PR topics, today I invite you to step into the Wayback Machine with me, and take a little trip to 80s television.
To Los Angeles and "Remington Steele."
Last weekend, we were in Best Buy picking up some gear for our podcast rig (yes, you read that right, more later this summer once I have time to get everything sorted) and I saw the DVDs of the first 3 seasons of the series on sale for 1/2 price. Of course this is a gambit to build new viewers for the last 2 seasons (out on DVD in August) but who cares. I was a big fan of the series during its original run, so all three DVDs made their way into the shopping cart.
And my friends, I am hooked all over again. I had forgotten just how good it was. Sure the hairstyles and clothes are a little dated. Everyone isn't walking around with things stuck in their ears talking (presumably)on the phone but looking like nothing so much as "Crazy Eddie" talking to the Invisible Man. Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist have pretty classic styles. Since they have the lion's share of the screen time, 80s big hair and knit ties on the secondary characters don't bug me that much.
And the stories themselves hold up pretty well, all things considered. The plots rely more on smarts and the flirtation between the two leads than they do on high tech gadgetry so we don't have to laugh too much at "technology." All in all, Remington Steele is pretty good screwball romantic comedy with a dash of detective. As I recall, it wasn't as good in later years, when the stars reportedly weren't too fond of each other, as in the beginning, which is what I am watching now, but it is still better than most. I'm sure enjoying it a heckuva a lot more than the dreck on TV these days.
But if you'd rather pass the time with a cheesy 80s star, I direct you to David Hasselhoff's music videos on YouTube. As I commented this morning on Andrea Weckerle's blog, Hasslehoff just might be living proof that Botox causes brain rot. Or something. Anyway, check out the videos (hat tip to Andrea for reminding me about them in her post today).
And finally stepping out of the Wayback Machine, but still in TV-land, don't miss the French TV commercial for Canal Plus (hat tip to Sandy for this one).
Tags: 80s TV, 80s television, Remington Steele
Posted @ 4:07PM in Mathom Room
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Comments
Susan, Susan - there you go again - "assuming" something - like Hasselhoff had a brain to begin with! ;-)
Add to the list of goodies - the old "Hart to Hart" series. I've been in love (lust) with Robert Wagner since I was like 3 years old. (And, yes "It Takes a Thief" from the 1960s is right up there too! If for nothing else, Fred Astaire as Al Mundy's father.) Fun to watch and fun to remember.
I think there's even a biz marketing point here - classic and quality holds up, "flavor of the second" doesn't (Something I think the folks at Rocketboom - and Amanda - might want to keep in mind)
I also confess to loving the old Dynasty series - it was trash - but classy, quality, very well-done, so over the top it was great trash! (Those shoulder pads, those cat fights, that music!)
It must be 80s week - should we talk music next? :-)
So, you're entering the podcasting fray, good for you! Pretty soon I'll have to add a list of podcasting links to my blog, yours included once it's up.